Hacks For Staying On Trend Without Breaking The Bank

Let’s be honest about something for a moment, us gals always want to look our best. Or, at least, we do if we’re fashion obsessed. While it’s all well and good being mad about fashion and staying up to date on all the latest trends, being fashionable can become problematic when you are living on a limited budget. The fact is that fashion is expensive, even high street fashion is pricey, which can make staying up to date and investing in a new wardrobe each season, a little stressful.

The issue is that for many of us, we just can’t afford to stay on trend. Or, if we choose to splash out to remain on trend, we end up breaking the bank to do so, which isn’t exactly a great step to take, is it? You can’t damage your finances just so that you can make sure that you look stylish – doing so is a recipe for total disaster.

However, just because you shouldn’t spend money that you can’t afford on fashion, that doesn’t mean that you can’t ensure that you stay looking on trend. There are plenty of simple ways that you can make staying fashionable more affordable. Want to know what these are? If the answer is yes, then read on for a guide to some of the smartest hacks for staying on trend without breaking the bank.

Get inspired

When you are on limited funds, you only have a limited amount of money that you can afford to spend on clothing. This means that it’s important to be mindful about what you buy – the fact is that you don’t want to splurge on an item just because you like it. Instead, it’s a much better idea to spend some time reading fashion magazines first, creating Pinterest boards of looks, so that you know what styles are in, and which are out. That way, you can ensure that when you hit the shops, you are able to purchase items that are on trend this season and will ensure that any outfit you wear looks stylish. The best magazines to read for fashion advice are InStyle, Grazia and, of course, Vogue. Take inspiration from the high end looks you see in these publications, and find a way to create your own, budget-friendly versions.

Shop during sales

One of the best ways that you can cut fashion costs is to shop during the sales. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only last season’s items that are in the sales – there’s always a mixture of items on offer, it’s just that the majority of things on sale are from the previous season. When it comes to last season’s fashion, it’s important to remember that trends don’t change that much between just one season, so you can quite easily wear items from last spring’s collections, for instance, and pass them off as being from this season. Going back to the sales; when it comes to shopping the sales it’s important to have a system in place, to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Sale racks are always crazy, so it can take some time to work your way through them. However, it’s worth taking the time to do so, as you never know what gems you might find.

Purchase discounted gift cards

Another simple way to cut costs and keep your shopping spending low is to be smart about the approach that you take. For instance, something that a lot of people find useful is buying discounted gift cards which you can buy only at www.Cards2Cash.com and a few other selected retailers. Discounted gift cards are gift cards that people who don’t want them have sold to the site – the site then sells them on at a discounted rate. So, for instance, say a gift card has the value of $90, you might be able to purchase it for $85, saving you $5. This might not seem like a huge saving but over time it all adds up, doesn’t it? If you were to save $5 ten times, you’d have $50 spare. Just think of the extra clothes you could afford to buy if you were able to save that amount of money.

Sell your old clothes

Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you no longer wear? Don’t simply leave them there not to be worn, be smart about things and sell them. If the clothes that you no longer wear are in good condition, there’s nothing stopping you from selling them on, and why shouldn’t you? Don’t hoard clothes that you’re never going to wear, sell them on to someone that will wear them, and use the cash to treat yourself to a few new items. The good news is that there are plenty of places that you can sell your old clothes via, from eBay and Vinted to local second-hand stores, you’ve got plenty of options. Make sure that when selling items second-hand, that you take good quality pictures of them and disclose any issues with the items, such as snags, for instance.

Create a capsule wardrobe

The basics of fashion don’t tend to change from season to season, which is why it’s worthwhile taking the time to create a beautiful capsule wardrobe that you can use year in, year out. Aim to build a capsule wardrobe made up of neutral staples from high-end brands that will last well and remain on trend for many seasons to come. Think neutral colors and neutral pieces, such as skinny jeans in black or blue, for instance. As long as these are of a good quality, they should stand the test of time well and work perfectly with any items from new collections. If you aren’t sure how to start with creating a capsule wardrobe, you may find that Pinterest has some excellent examples on offer that you can use to guide you.

Buy second hand

A lot of us fashion loving gals are scared to buy items second hand because we believe that this devalues them. However, that isn’t the case at all, second-hand clothing can look just as fantastic as brand new pieces, and can be just as stylish too. Plus, by choosing to purchase items second-hand, you can often buy designer pieces but at much lower prices. So if you’re the kind of gal that loves wearing designer clothing, buying second hand could be a good option for you, and one that’s worth looking into. There are so many great places that you can purchase second-hand items from, you can choose to shop online or visit local thrift stores – it’s up to you where you choose to go.

Shop smart

When it comes to how you shop, it’s important to take a smart approach to your shopping. What this means is, being willing to shop around when looking for a certain garment or style of clothing. You might see a dress for $50 in a designer store and then see a similar one for £15 in a high street store, that’s why it’s so important to shop smart and be mindful of where you buy from. If you’re lucky enough to have a student ID or a friend with student ID, make sure to take full advantage of it and its discounts. Students get some amazing deals, so it makes sense to take advantage of them. Whenever there’s a sale on, try and do as much of your shopping as possible, to ensure that you get as much for your money as you can.

Sign up to email alerts

A great way to ensure that you get access to all the best deals and discounts is to sign up for email alerts from all of your favorite stores. If you sign up to email alerts, then you will receive details about all the latest deals and discounts from your favorite stores. On a regular basis, stores send out deals and discounts to their subscribers, on top of the regular sales they hold throughout the year. So it’s worthwhile being signed up to receive these, to ensure that you aren’t missing out on any chances to cut costs and save money on new clothing. Whenever you visit a store, ask if they have an email newsletter and if they do, sign up for it.

The truth is that while you could spend your entire month’s salary on clothes shopping if you went mad, you don’t have to do so to look good and stay on trend. Believe it or not, if you know what steps to take, you can easily dress to impress and ensure that you remain on trend without breaking the bank. Looking fashionable doesn’t have to cost you the earth if you are smart about how and where you shop, you can actually keep the cost of what you wear to a low and affordable price. To cut your spending costs, take note of the tips and advice above and implement them when it comes to how you shop.

Happy Shopping!

What are some of your tips for staying on trend on a budget? Let me know in the comments! I love hearing from you!